Jane Addams to Woodrow Wilson, December 20, 1916

I HAVE RECEIVED VARIOUS CABLES FROM THE [WOMEN'S] COMMITTEE FOR PERMANENT PEACE THROUGH OUR INTERNATIONAL OFFICE AT AMSTERDAM AND MANY MESSAGES FROM OUR BRANCHES IN THE UNITED STATES URGING ME TO EXPRESS TO YOU THE GRATITUDE OF OUR ASSOCIATION FOR YOUR ABLE EFFORTS TO SECURE A DEFINITION OF TERMS FROM THE BELLIGERENT POWERS.

THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT AFTER THE FIRST HYPERSENSITIVE REACTION SUBSIDES THE BELLIGERENTS THEMSELVES WILL REALIZE WHAT HAS BECOME SO INCREASINGLY CLEAR TO THE NEUTRALS THAT THE AIMS OF WAR INEVITABLY CHANGE DURING THE PROCESS OF WAR-FARE AND THAT IT IS AN IMPERATIVE OF FIRST DEALING BETWEEN NATIONS THAT YOU SHOULD SECURE A LATER STATEMENT THAN THE GENERAL AIMS ENUNCIATED SO MANY MONTHS AGO.